[Publib] Computer Reservation Software

[Shaw, Matthew M]

We have used SAM for over 2 years. We have experienced anything but
satisfaction with SAM in conjunction with Sirsi Workflows GL 3.1. We
have experienced:
 
- double-bookings
- customers assigned to workstations occupied by a legitimate, signed-in
user
- customers dropped from the waiting list unexpectedly
- incorrect accounting of time spent by customers at workstations
- incorrect accounting of funds deposited for printing through the
Automated Payment Machine
- poor communication from the administration module at the service desk
to the sign-up station
 
We have 1 Central Library with several departments and 9 branch
libraries.
 
One branch library has to turn off the sign-up station nearly every day
and then goes to a paper list. Other branches do this occasionally to
frequently.
 
Obviously, this has frustrated customers and makes the staff look
incompetent. 
 
Every upgrade and tweak shows promise for correcting problems. Usually,
new problems crop up as soon as old problems are fixed.
 
We have a major software update coming up next month that should "fix
all of our problems." My fingers are crossed.

Matt Shaw   

<http://www.imajlar.com/free_clipart/snowman_clipart/snowman_clipart_2.g
if> 

Community Libraries and Outreach Services

Forsyth County Public Library

660 West Fifth Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

(336) 703-2978

shawmm at forsythlibrary.org <mailto:shawmm at forsythlibrary.org> 

 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Anne Feiler
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:00 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Computer Reservation Software



We use SAM with Horizon (7.3.4) and it's a huge improvement over what we
had before.  We're on Terminal Server, which has made things more
complicated for us than for other libraries.   

Our computers are walk-up and sign on until there are people waiting.
When people are waiting, they go to the sign up computer and get into
the queue.  We use reservations only for the Homework Center to reserve
the computers for the times when the HC is open.  We have special
library cards for the volunteers in the HC.  We have had no problems
with lost reservations or double bookings.

Because we use Terminal Server, our remote functions don't work reliably
(logging in or out users remotely, sending messages, etc.).  Our other
issue is that it's cumbersome removing a broken computer from the list
of available computers to avoid having someone assigned to it when we're
queuing.

I have found that SAM (Comprise) is MUCH more responsive than the last
product we had.  

Anne 

Anne Feiler 
Head of Reference 
Lafayette Public Library 
775 W. Baseline Road 
Lafayette, CO  80026 
303.665.5200 ext. 3816 
annef at cityoflafayette.com 




 






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